Love Birds (musical)

History of the musical

After two short but successful runs of A Spoonful of Sherman, during the recording of the original cast album in December 2014, Sherman turned to Nicholls with the Love Birds concept. Only a few of the songs were complete and a script had yet to be written but Nicholls liked the concept and the songs he had heard. Nicholls suggested veteran Edinburgh producer, Kat Portman Smith to produce. The script and balance of songs were then composed over the next few months with a first draft (one act) book and score completed in June 2015. In the meantime, a poster image was commissioned which would set much of the visual tone of the piece moving forward. The poster was created by Rebecca Pitt. A production team was put together consisting of Designer: Gabriella Slade, Lighting Designer: Rob Mills, Sound Designer: Andy Hinton, Casting Director: Stephen Moore, Stage Manager: Roisin Symes, Production Manager: Simon Streeting. Press Representative Susie Safavi and Social Media Manager: Terri Paddock were also brought in at this point. Originally Music Supervision was being handled by Colin Billing who had worked with Nicholls and Sherman on A Spoonful of Sherman the year before. In late June, Billing had to pull out from the production for personal reasons at which point Musical Director: Richard Healey stepped in to do the music arrangements for the show in just under two weeks. Taking Healey's place as Musical Director was Neil MacDonald. Rehearsals commenced in earnest on July 13, 2015 at The Big Wheel rehearsal space in Exmouth Market, London. London Previews were held on the July 28 and 29 at the Lost Theatre in Stockwell. On July 30, the entire Original Cast Album was recorded (in a single day) at Porcupine Studios and mixed over the following two days by Engineer: Nick Taylor. Edinburgh previews began on August 5 with press attending from August 6 onward.

Plot

The year is 1923, the Age of Vaudeville. It is a magical, musical time when birds and monsters can put on a show that will fill a theatre. Outside of house, plesiosaur impresario Armitage Shanks (aka the “Loch Ness Monster”) hawks his all-avian revue “Love Birds” to passersby on the street. (Fanfare / Barrelhouse Barker). Inside the theatre, famed Italian crooning parrot, Baalthazar Macaw (aka “The Feathered Caruso”) sings his World War I era hit (Glorious Gull Of The Glen). But just as he trills the final electrifying notes of his song, a mysterious person in the audience audibly bites into a “Crunchy Cracker”. After the show, an outraged Baalthazar storms off, swearing never to return to the Love Birds stage. Armitage chases after his old friend (and star attraction of the show).

Just then, a well-meaning quartet of penguins inadvertently blocks the plesiosaur’s passage. Dismayed at losing sight of Baalthazar, Armitage’s mood brightens when he discovers that the fresh-faced foursome can sing. After hearing only a short excerpt of their song (Mary Poppins), Armitage hires the quartet on the spot. Suddenly gussied-up in barbershop regalia, Parker, Presley, Pewcey and Puck take the stage as performers in the show. Overnight the four penguins become a regular fixture in the “Love Birds” revue, singing and dancing alongside Baalthazar’s backup singers, the three musical veteran macaws, Vera, Veronica and Valentine (Tinpanorama).

Albeit performances run to half empty houses, Armitage is gratified that he can still, at least keep the show running. He tries to reassure Valentine (who is Baalthazar’s daughter) that although her father will, from time to time, pull melodramatic stunts, eventually he always “flies right.” Still, until his return, the plesiosaur suggests the company will have to “improvise a little”. He encourages the Love Birds cast to continue to find new (family-friendly) material to perform. In this spirit, the penguins and parrots cobble together an operetta entitled, “The Unlikely Saga of Sadie Macaw”. Its debut marks the first time precocious Puck plays opposite parrot ingénue Valentine (Sadie Macaw [pt. 1] / Bird With The Broken Heart / Valentine / Sadie Macaw [pt. 2]).

The next day, Puck finds Valentine backstage, rummaging through Armitage’s old trunk of songs, looking for something to sing. Clearly smitten with the parrot, Puck awkwardly presents her with “a rose of congratulation” in recognition of their first performance together. Valentine enjoys the attention of her would-be suitor even though she doesn’t take Puck particularly seriously. Still Puck making her laugh serves as a much needed reprieve from her ongoing worry concerning her missing father. Together the penguin and the parrot sift through a flurry of quirky songs, each one possessing a more peculiar title than the last. When they finally happen on a song called “Today Is Yesterday’s Tomorrow” Valentine explains that “Armitage gave up songwriting after that!” Just then, Armitage appears. He elaborates that he gave up songwriting because the publishers said he was a dinosaur (Old Fashioned Guy). The song morphs into an “on-stage” soft-shoe number. Halfway through, Baalthazar unexpectedly swoops back onto stage. Two old cronies, Baalthazar and Armitage, finish out the number together, revealing the deep-seated friendship they share for each other, despite their differences and ongoing squabbles.

When the song concludes, the mood shifts. Baalthazar tries to persuade Armitage into modernizing the show by introducing elements of burlesque. Armitage is adamant that he will never let the show “go blue” even if it means not making much money.

Frustrated, Baalthazar exits and Veronica finds Armitage alone. Wanting to thank him for giving her the job singing in the troupe, she makes seductive advances toward him. Taken aback, Armitage stops Veronica from going any further. He tells her that she doesn’t ever have to thank him in that sort of manner. He confides in her that to him she is a “an angel – with wings and a celestial voice” He entered show business so that he could be close to that, not so that he could destroy it. Veronica is moved to tears.

Meanwhile, Baalthazar has not given up trying to bring in more revenue vis-à-vis “going burlesque”. To this end, he works behind the scenes, convincing Presley and the other penguins to perform a more titillating, Charleston-esque song (The Flipper Flap). As the song concludes, Armitage storms the stage, apologizing to the audience for the penguins’ choice of “blue” material. Backstage, the plesiosaur chastises the penguins. Awash in feelings of guilt (and confusion) Presley repents, committing to make more traditional choices in his life moving forward (Old Fashioned Guy [Reprise]).

Dressed as a male mobster (parrot), Vera performs, (The Sharpest Smile) a cautionary tale about a doomed romance between a parrot and a crocodile named “Pearl” (who is played by Armitage). As the song progresses, “Pearl” chases the “mobster” up and down the stage in a loving attempt to eat the mobster alive.

In a private moment, Baalthazar discloses (only to the audience) his obsession with “Crunchy Crackers”. He explains that mankind has systematically used “the devil biscuit” to oppress his species. He vows never to allow the Crunchy Cracker to wield such power over him. Just then Veronica enters. Efforts thwarted once already, Baalthazar maneuvers Veronica into singing a burlesque interpretation of a song he knows Armitage wouldn’t suspect could “go blue” – because it’s a song that Armitage himself wrote (Paint A Rainbow). Baalthazar wagers that once they see it performed, the audience will get a taste for Veronica’s risqué “feather dance” and it will become an inevitable fait accompli that the show must “go blue”. When Armitage finally sees what’s happening on stage though, he’s mortified. As the number finishes, the Machiavellian macaw victoriously takes the spotlight. As he had predicted, the audience responds with hoots and hollers. He then reveals to the audience that the feather dance was his idea after all. Armitage takes the stage, once again expressing his deep disappointment with the conniving parrot. Impetuously Baalthazar, yet again, storms out of the theatre. Valentine begs her father to stay, or at least to tell her where he’s going, but Baalthazar refuses to tell her.

Later that night, while attempting to acquire some Crunchy Crackers from a shady street vendor, Baalthazar is arrested. Having hit rock bottom, the humbled parrot confesses his cracker addiction to one and all (Crunchy Crackers). Baalthazar becomes so frenzied that he must be carried off stage so that he can seek help for his affliction. Armitage delivers the sad news that “Without a star who can fill the theatre seats, that night’s show must be their very last.” Valentine meets with her father just before he’s about to leave for the Cracker Asylum. She has a long overdue conversation with Baalthazar about their relationship (On Cloudy Days).

With all hope seemingly lost, Puck cheers Valentine up just as they’re about to go on stage for the very last time. Suddenly Valentine sees the young penguin through different eyes (Love Birds). At the song’s conclusion, penguin and parrot kiss, causing a scandal that hits all the newspapers. Armitage is forced to appear before the Supreme Court where he must now stand trial in front of the Chief Justice of the land. The case is ultimately dismissed due to there being no actual laws broken.

The show is reopened and due to the recent notoriety it had received, becomes more popular than ever. In light of Valentine and Puck’s romance, Presley and Veronica announce that they too are in love. Armitage reluctantly gives the birds his blessing – and as he does, a sudden surge of euphoria washes over him, making him realize how good casting off outmoded convictions can feel. The plesiosaur’s newfound spirit of acceptance is quickly put to the test when Parker and Pewcey reveal that they too, “have found love!” To everyone’s surprise, Armitage rushes to congratulate the two penguins. Parker and Pewcey are deeply relieved to receive Armitage’s approval. Then Armitage adds enigmatically, that he looks forward to meeting the penguins’ future WIVES too”. Finally back from the “Cracker Palace,” and cracker-free for two months, Baalthazar appears on stage. He consoles Parker and Pewcey reminding them that Armitage is a dinosaur after all, and that one shouldn’t expect progressive thinking from a dinosaur. Then the reformed parrot adds that they shouldn’t worry: “Armitage will come around. He always does.” As the show comes to a close, Armitage tells the penguins, parrots and the audience that we should embrace love where we can find it (Today Is Yesterday’s Tomorrow). Then, taking his own advice, he kisses Vera. (Love Birds [Finale]).

Songs and Musical Numbers Cut for Edinburgh

The following is a list of songs (or partially written songs) cut for the Edinburgh run but which may be considered for an expanded version of the show.

Unused Promotional Jingle

This is a specially written promotional jingle by Robert Sherman and sung by the characters who play penguins in the show. It is 30 seconds long in duration and meant to introduce the penguin characters individually to the crowd. The lyric also mentions showtimes, venue name and location.

The Band

Due to the constrictions of Edinburgh Festival Fringe the band was limited to three players. Neil MacDonald played piano and was the musical director, Marcus Pritchard played double bass and James Pritchard played drums and percussion. The Pritchards are brothers. The same trio played on all the live shows leading up to and during the Edinburgh run. They also played on the Original Cast Recording.

Original (Edinburgh) Cast Recording

The Love Birds Original Edinburgh Cast Recording was recorded on July 30, 2015 and mixed on July 31 and August 3. The CD was produced by Robert Sherman. The music was produced by Richard Healey, Neil MacDonald and Nick Taylor and recorded, mixed and mastered by Nick Taylor at Porcupine Studios in South London. The CD was released by SimG Records on August 17, 2015, with pre-orders and advance copies available from August 13. The recording was released digitally on iTunes on September 14, 2015.

Track listing

Track list information according taken from the CD liner notes.

Differences Between the Show and the CD Running Order

Slight modifications were made to the running order of the CD. "On Cloudy Days" was re-introduced into the running order after having been cut during rehearsals for Edinburgh. (It had been cut so the show would comply with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe's one-hour compliance rule.) The "Crunchy Crackers" brief reprise was also cut from the show for that reason, but was not included in the recording. "Old Fashioned Guy" (brief reprise) which is sung by Armitage to Veronica, was also left out of the recording. A number of songs which did not have endings in the context of the show, including "The Flipper Flap" and "Love Birds" were given "button" endings for the purposes of the cast recording.

Critical Response

The critical response meeting both Love Birds during its Edinburgh run and its simultaneous "Original Edinburgh Cast Recording" release was very positive. In The Stage's wrap-up edition of the festival, on September 3, 2015 reporter Paul Vale declared Love Birds his "Critic's Pick" of the Fringe.